On Thursday, June 25th, the Lower Eastside Girls Club (LESGC) hosted a Virtual Gala unveiling the Center for Wellbeing and Happiness, the expansion to the organization’s current headquarters on East 8th Street and Avenue D in Manhattan. Gala attendees saw a preview of the new space, which was designed pro-bono by SOM and will be … Continued
Founded in 2010, SOM Women’s Initiative (SOMWI) creates a positive impact in the AEC industry by advancing women at all levels of our firm worldwide. We challenge institutional barriers to gender equity, bias, and systemic discrimination by promoting intersectionality and awareness, fostering mentorship and retention, and providing opportunities for professional growth and development. We are … Continued
SOM-NOMA is committed to advancing equity at SOM and within the AEC industry. Aligned with the mission and goals of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), our internal group emerged in 2018 in tandem with SOM’s sponsorship of the Barbara G. Laurie Student Design Competition. It has since grown to a global group whose … Continued
SOM Pride is a global network that elevates and celebrates the voices of the LGBTQIA+ community at our firm and in our industry. We’re focused on building an open, inclusive, and equitable environment together. Spanning countries and regions, our network brings visibility to our community and our allies. We affirm the importance of a safe … Continued
The Moscone Center Expansion and Billie Jean King Main Library have both been honored with Merit Awards as part of the 2020 AIA California Design Awards. Moscone Center also received a Leading Edge award for its design excellence as related to sustainability and resilience. The Moscone Center Expansion project included the renovation of Moscone North; a … Continued
In September, SOM Director Yue Zhu and Associate Directors Thomas Kinzl, Martin Liepmann, and Phil Obayda will speak at Virtual Festival of Facades. The event, a three-month-long series of panel discussions and workshops on facade engineering and design, is presented by Zak World of Facades. On Wednesday, September 2nd, Thomas Kinzl presented “Innovation and Trends … Continued
New Futura has been honored as a recipient of the 2020 Urban Land Institute (ULI) Asia Pacific Award for Excellence. This year’s thirteen winners, which included real estate projects from across the Asia Pacific region, demonstrated success across a range of criteria, including design, sustainability, urban planning, community impact, and market acceptance. Located in a vibrant center-city … Continued
. . . 5:30am: On a typical Monday, I would be in a taxi on my way to Heathrow airport. Since lockdown began, my last trip was to Switzerland for International Women’s Day, where I’m a part of a woman-led team on a project with the United Nations (more on that later). Being at home gives … Continued
. . . Design firms and the industry at large have discussed “equality of opportunity” as a remedy to systemic racism in America. Equality is not the solution; many students of color enter academia having experienced decades of economic and emotional trauma stemming from redlining, policing, environmental exploitation, pay inequity and more. They bring these … Continued
In September and November of 2020, SOM Associate Mina Hasman will present at 2030 Climate Challenge: The Ultimate Toolkit for Architects. The multi-day training series is hosted by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and The Green Register. Hasman and other sustainability experts will lead courses and workshops designed to help architects achieve the 10-year … Continued